Method for producing hydrocarbons from igneous sources

Abstract

A method of producing a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method employs carbon containing material, water and a reaction chamber in a hot subterranean formation. The method steps include: (a) forming an aqueous slurry containing said material in divided, flowable form, (b) passing the slurry into said subterranean formation for chemical interaction of said material at said elevated temperature to form said hydrocarbon, and (c) recovering said hydrocarbon.

We claim: 
     
       1. In the method of producing a hydrocarbon and employing carbon containing material, water and a reaction chamber in a hot subterranean formation, the steps that include: (a) forming an aqueous slurry containing said material in divided, flowable form, said carbon containing material consisting of a mineral carbonate,   (b) passing the slurry into said subterranean formation for chemical interaction of said material and water at elevated temperature to form said hydrocarbon, and   (c) recovering said hydrocarbon,   (d) said method including the preliminary step of locating the chamber in said hot subterranean formation for receiving said slurry, a subterranean magmatic source of heat being utilized, and wherein said locating step is carried out to locate the chamber in heat transfer proximity with said subterranean magmatic source of heat.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said locating step is carried out to locate said chamber proximate a subterranean porous rock formation in which said hydrocarbon tends to collect in fluid state, and said recovering step includes providing an up-passage extending from said porous rock formation to the earth surface for passing said hydrocarbon to the surface. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said mineral carbonate is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 including the step of introducing into said chamber components selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, ammonia and other oxygen and nitrogen containing reactants which will react with the hydrocarbon to form compounds containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. 
     
     
       5. In the method of producing a hydrocarbon and employing a carbon containing material, water and a reaction chamber in a hot subterranean formation, the steps that include, (a) forming an aqueous slurry containing said material in divided, flowable form,   (b) passing the slurry into said subterranean formation for chemical interaction of said material and water at elevated temperature to form said hydrocarbon, and introducing a catalyst into said chamber for catalyzing the interaction to form the hydrocarbon, and   (c) recovering said hydrocarbon, said method including the preliminary step of locating the chamber in said hot subterranean formation for receiving said slurry and catalyst, a subterranean magmatic source of heat being utilized, and wherein said locating step is carried out to locate the chamber proximate said subterranean magmatic source of heat to provide heat transfer from the magmatic source to the slurry in the chamber, the carbon containing material selected from the group which includes magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, lignite, oil shale, tar sand, gilsonite, limestone and coal, and limestone and graphite, and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 including the step of forming a down-passage extending between the earth surface and said subterranean chamber, said passing step including passing the slurry via said down passage to said chamber. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 that includes the step of fracturing the formation proximate said passage and said chamber. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 5 wherein said catalyst consists of a clay. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein said clay is selected from the group which consists of montmorillonite, kaolinite, and illite. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8 wherein said clay is selected from the group which consists of iron and other heavy metal compounds. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 5 wherein said introducing step includes including said catalyst in the slurry being passed to said chamber. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 including the preliminary step of grinding the carbon containing material and the clay for mixing with water to form the slurry. 
     
     
       13. In the method of producing a hydrocarbon and employing carbon containing material, water and a reaction chamber in a hot subterranean formation, the steps that include: (a) forming an aqueous slurry containing said material in divided, flowable form,   (b) passing the slurry into said subterranean formation for chemical interaction of said material and water at elevated temperature to form said hydrocabon, and   (c) recovering said hydrocarbon,   (d) said method including the preliminary step of locating the chamber in said hot subterranean formation for receiving said slurry, a subterranean magmatic source of heat being utilized, and wherein said locating step is carried out to locate the chamber proximate an upwardly sloping subterranean stratified rock formation and in heat transfer proximity with said subterranean magmatic source of heat.   
     
     
       14. In the method of producing a hydrocarbon and employing carbon containing material, water and a reaction chamber in a hot subterranean formation, the steps that include: (a) forming an aqueous slurry containing said material in divided, flowable form,   (b) passing the slurry into said subterranean formation for chemical interaction of said material and water at elevated temperature to form said hydrocarbon, and introducing a catalyst into said chamber for catalyzing the interaction to form the hydrocarbon, and   (c) recovering said hydrocarbon,   (d) said method including the preliminary step of locating the chamber in said hot subterranean formation for receiving said slurry, a subterranean magmatic source of heat being utilized, and wherein said locating step is carried out to locate the chamber in heat transfer proximity with said subterranean magmatic source of heat.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein said carbon containing material is selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, together with lignite, oil shale, tar sand, gilsonite, limestone and coal, and limestone and graphite.